Violin and Glass 1918

Juan Gris made this painting, ‘Violin and Glass’ with oil on canvas, and it's a real head-scratcher, isn't it? It’s like he took the world, chopped it up into shapes, and then reassembled it in his own way. Looking closely, I love how Gris builds up the surface with these thin, washy layers of color. It's not about hiding the process, it's about showing you every step of the way. See how the different shapes are outlined, yet seem to float independently of one another? Then there’s that violin scroll, all twisted and turned – it reminds me that art isn't about perfection. It's about taking risks and seeing where they lead. It's like the Cubists were always asking, what does it mean to see? When I look at this painting, I think of Braque. Like Gris, he also broke things apart to put them back together again. These guys really understood art as a conversation, a back and forth, an ongoing exploration.